The fir eats / Mateja Kobescak
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cocktail Cards | 2022-08-12 18:00:06 |  41,379 Views |
How to Make Cuba Libre | The Easiest Drink Ever
While many people think of the Cuba Libre cocktail as “just a rum and Coke” this popular mixed drink gets a zesty twist from fresh lime juice that lightens up the mix and cuts through the sweetness of the Coke. Translated from Spanish the name means “free Cuba” a phrase popularized around the end of the Spanish-American War and used to celebrate Cuba’s liberation from Spanish rule.
The Cuba Libre is a fairly mild mixed drink. The actual alcohol content will vary depending on the strength of your rum and the amount of Coke you ultimately pour. On average though it will only be around 11 percent ABV (22 proof). That’s normal for highball drinks and about as strong as a glass of wine.
There are several stories about how this cocktail came to be but one thing is for sure: it didn’t happen until after Coca-Cola arrived in Cuba around 1900. One popular version of the drink’s origins is that it was invented at the American Bar in Havana where a group of American soldiers were celebrating the defeat of the Spanish in the Spanish-American War. A U.S. Army captain ordered Bacardí rum with Coca-Cola and a wedge of lime and toasted “Por Cuba libre!”—a popular wartime rallying cry. The phrase quickly became the cocktail’s name.
